“My dear Breschia,” cried Brunow, “we are sorry to have defrauded you; but you know us, and you know it will not pay to meddle with us. We are on neutral soil. We are all three British subjects. You have no authority here, and you know it.”
“Eh, bien!” said the lieutenant, laughing still. “Civis Romanus sum. His excellency, the mayor, will bear out my statement that I came and saw and strove to conquer. You do not find it in your competence, sir, to arrest these gentlemen, who are all subjects of the British crown?”
“It is not my affair,” said the mayor.
“And I am not authorized to employ force,” said the lieutenant. “We are nonplussed, Monsieur le Maire.”
“It would so appear,” said the puzzled functionary; and being bowed from the room by the lieutenant, he retired.
“Civis Romanus sum,” repeated Breschia, when we were left alone. “It is a great saying. And so you positively won't come back?”
“Positively we will not,” said Brunow.
“Then, positively,” returned the lieutenant, “I will go back and report my failure.”
“Permit that I condole,” said Brunow.
“Permit that I felicitate,” answered Breschia; and so with a burlesque friendly bow on either side they parted.